Air conditioner

ABSTRACT

An air conditioner may be provided having a housing and a fan provided within the housing. In this regard, the fan may be configured to draw air into the housing and direct the air radially outward. Additionally, a heat exchanger may be provided within the housing. The heat exchanger may be configured to exchange heat with the air which is directed radially outward. Also, at least one airflow guide may be provided on the housing and extending in a flow direction of the radially directed air. In this regard, the airflow guide may be configured to guide a discharging of air that has exchanged heat.

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in priority Korean Application No. 10-2006-0073410, filed on Aug. 3, 2006, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to a ceiling mounted air conditioner that is installed on a ceiling.

In general, an air conditioner is a home appliance for maintaining the condition of air within an indoor space, e.g., at a desirable temperature set by a user. Thus, an indoor space can be cooled in the summer and warmed in the winter, and the humidity level in the indoor space can also be controlled to provide a comfortable, clean indoor atmosphere.

Air conditioners may be categorized into many types according to purpose (or use) or an installed location. In a typical ceiling mounted air conditioner, an indoor unit that suctions air from an indoor space may exchange heat such that the temperature of the air is lowered. Subsequently, the air conditioner which may be installed between a ceiling wall and an outer ceiling surface, may supply the air back into the indoor space.

A ceiling mounted air conditioner according to the related art includes a cabinet (or housing), and a fan motor installed within the cabinet, a blower fan coupled to the fan motor, an inlet and outlet, and a front panel coupled to the bottom of the cabinet. A heat exchanger is disposed around the blower fan to exchange heat with air blown by the blower fan.

In the above configuration, air suctioned into the cabinet through the inlet by the blower fan is blown in a radial direction to the blower fan to pass through the heat exchanger.

Then, the flow of air that passes through the heat exchanger is redirected as it contacts the surface of the cabinet so that it passes through the outlet into the indoor space below.

However, in a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to the related art, because the cabinet is formed in a rectangular shape, the air that is discharged in a radial direction of the blower fan and through the heat exchanger collides against corners of the cabinet to create eddies.

When such eddies are generated at the corners of the cabinet, an increase in pressure loss results. In order to compensate for the increase in the loss of pressure, the fan motor must be rotated at a higher speed.

When the fan motor speed is increased, the increase in the speed of the blower fan causes an increase in the level of generated noise.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a non-limiting feature of the present invention provides an air conditioner including a housing and a fan provided within the housing. In this regard, the fan may be configured to draw air into the housing and direct the air radially outward.

Further, a heat exchanger may be provided within the housing, the heat exchanger being configured to exchange heat with the air which is directed radially outward. Additionally, at least one airflow guide may be provided on the housing so as to extend in a flow direction of the radially directed air. In this regard, the airflow guide may be configured to guide a discharging of air that has exchanged heat. Also, the airflow guide may be formed on upper and side surfaces of the housing. Further, the airflow guide may have a cross-sectional curved shape when viewed in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the blower fan.

In another non-limiting direction, the airflow guide may be curved toward a direction opposite to the flow direction of the air directed radially outward by the fan. Further, the airflow guide may have a curvature extending from a top of the housing toward a bottom of the housing.

Further, the airflow guide may extend downwardly from a top of the housing in a direction corresponding to the flow direction of the air which is directed radially outward the fan. Also, the airflow guide may define a noise reduction hole. Additionally, the housing may includes a plurality of sides and the airflow may include a plurality of airflow guides provided proximate to intersections of adjacent sides of the housing.

In another non-limiting feature, the housing may include a first side, a second side, and a connector which connects the first and second sides. In this regard, the airflow guide may be provided on at least the connector or the connector and an adjacent side. Further, the airflow guide may be provided on an upper surface of the housing. Additionally, the airflow guide may protrude from the housing into the flow of the radially directed air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further described in the detail description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings, by way of non-limiting examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention, in which like characters represent like elements throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the flow of air within a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing airflow guides of a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, a ceiling mounted air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment may include a housing 10 installed on a ceiling 5, a front panel 20 coupled to the bottom surface of the housing 10, a fan motor 30 fixed to the inner top surface of the housing 10, a fan (e.g., a blower fan) 40 connected to the fan motor 30 configured to forcibly ventilate indoor air, a heat exchanger 50 configured to exchange heat between indoor air drawn into the housing 10 by the ventilating fan 40 and refrigerant within the heat exchanger 50, and a fixing member (or fixer) 80 for fixing the heat exchanger 50 to the housing 10.

The ceiling mounted air conditioner 1 may also include a bell-shaped mouth 45 provided below the blower fan 40 and configured to guide the flow of air drawn into the housing 10, a drain pan 70 provided below the heat exchanger 50 which collects condensed water that condenses while air passes through the heat exchanger 50, and an airflow guide 100 formed on the inner surface of the housing 10 which guides the flow of air discharged in a radial direction by the fan 40.

More specifically, the housing 10 may have a multi-faceted (or multi-sided) shape and an open bottom surface. The front panel 20 may be coupled to the open portion of the housing 10 thereby sealing the inside of the air conditioner.

An inlet 22, through which indoor air may be drawn into the housing 10, may be defined in the central portion of the front panel 20. A plurality of outlets 24, which may be configured to discharge air passing through the heat exchanger 50 to the indoor space, may be defined around the inlet 22.

For example, the inlet 22 may be formed (or provided) having a rectangular shape, and the outlet 24 may be formed at each wall of the inlet 22.

A discharge vane 26 configured to adjust the direction of discharged air, may be pivotably coupled through a hinge to each outlet 24. However, one of ordinarily skill in the art would recognize that any suitable coupler may be employed.

Additionally, the fan 40 used may be a turbine fan which draws air in an axial direction and discharges air in a radial direction.

The airflow guide 100 may be formed (or provided) on at least the inner, upper surface of the housing 10 and the side surface(s), thereby preventing turbulence of air being discharged in a radial direction to the fan 40 and guiding the air to be smoothly discharged into the indoor space through the outlet 24.

The flow of air in an air conditioner will now be described.

The blowing force generated by the rotation of the blower fan 40 suctions air from below the cabinet 10 upwards into the cabinet 10. The suctioned air enters through the blower fan 40 in an axial direction thereof, and is discharged in a radial direction. The air that has exchanged heat by being discharged in a radial direction is redirected in flow direction and flows downward and out through the outlet 24 back into the indoor space.

A more detailed description of the non-limiting example of the airflow guide 100 will be given below.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, the ceiling mounted air conditioner may include a heat exchanger 50 provided having an approximately rectangular formation (or configuration) within the housing 10, and the fan 40 disposed within the heat exchanger 50.

Also, a drain pump 75 may be provided at a side edge of the heat exchanger 50 to discharge water condensed in the drain pan 70 to an outside of the heat exchanger 50. The drain pump 75 may be supported on the housing 10 by a bracket 77. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand that any suitable support may be utilized to support the drain pump 75.

Further, the housing 10 may have a plurality of sides that form (or provide) the outer perimeter (or casing) of the housing. In this regard, the sides may include a first side 11, a second side 12 that forms an angle of approximately 90° with the first side 11, a third side 13 that is parallel to the first side 11, a fourth side 14 that is parallel to the second side 12, and a connector 15 that connects the respective sides.

The connector 15 in this exemplary embodiment may be formed (or provided) in a straight line; however, the connector 15 may be provided with any suitable shape including, but not limited to, being rounded and extending towards a side of the housing 10.

Additionally, the connector 15 may be located (or positioned) at the respective ends of sides 11, 12, 13, and 14. In the above-noted embodiment, the connector 15 can be said to be formed (or provided) at the corners of the housing 10.

The airflow guide 100 may include a plurality of airflow guides provided on the connector(s) 15 of the housing 10. However, a portion of the plurality of airflow guides 100 may be formed (or provided) on the connectors 15, and the other portion may be formed (or provided) on the two sides which are adjacent to respective connectors 15. In this regard, when airflow guides 100 are formed (or provided) on each side, they may be formed (or provided) near the connectors 15.

Also, the air that is discharged radially from the fan 40 may be redirected by approximately 90° as it meets (or intersects) the housing 10. When the flow direction of air is changed and the air is discharged, eddies may form at each of the connectors 15 of the housing 10, thereby creating an increase in pressure loss.

Thus, the rotating speed of the fan motor 30 may be increased to compensate for the lost pressure. When the rotating speed of the fan motor 30 increases, noise generated by the blower fan 40 increases.

However, in accordance with the present invention, the air flowing toward the connectors 15 of the housing 10 can easily be directed downwardly by the airflow guides 100 provided in the housing 10. Therefore, the occurrence of eddies at the connectors 15 of the housing 10 may be prevented, thereby preventing a loss of pressure.

In other words, the air discharged toward the connector 15 from the fan 40 may flow downward along each of the airflow guides 100, thereby preventing eddies from occurring at the connectors 15.

By thus preventing the loss of pressure, loss in the operating efficiency of the fan motor 30 may be reduced, as well as noise generated when the speed of the fan motor 30 is increased.

Each of the airflow guides 100 may be formed (or provided) having an elongated shape in the same direction as the flow of air at the inner surface of the housing 10. For example, in order to completely guide the discharging of air, the airflow guides 100 may extend from the inner surface of the housing 10 to a position close to the outlet 24 of the front panel 20.

In order to prevent noise from being generated when air collides with the airflow guides 100, the ends of the airflow guides 100 may be spaced a predetermined distance from the heat exchanger 50.

Further, noise generated when air that has exchanged heat collides with the airflow guide 100 can be reduced by adding a noise reduction hole.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the flow of air within a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the blower fan 40 is rotated by the operation of the fan motor 30, indoor air may be drawn into the housing 10 through the inlet 22. The drawn in air may be directed in a radial direction by the fan (e.g., a blower fan) 40, thereby passing through the heat exchanger 50.

Also, the air that flows to the corners of the cabinet 10 may be guided by the airflow guides 100 to flow smoothly toward the outlet 24.

Accordingly, the airflow guides 100 prevent the creation of eddies at the connectors 15 of the housing 10, so that loss of pressure can be prevented. Also, when the loss of pressure is prevented, the rotational noise level of the fan 40 can be reduced.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the airflow guides 200 may be provided on the connectors which connect the respective sides 11, 12, 13, and 14; however, they are not limited thereto. That is, one of ordinary skill is the art would readily understand that the connectors may be positioned at any suitable location.

Also, the airflow guides 200 may extend from the connectors 15 with a predetermined curvature, in order to enable a smoother flow of air at the connectors 15.

In detail, when viewed in a vertical section of the fan 40, the airflow guides 200 may be formed (or provided) to extend in a curved shape from the connectors 15 toward a direction opposite to the flow direction of air discharged from the fan 40.

Due to this shape of the airflow guides 200, noise generated from air discharged from the fan 40 and colliding with the airflow guides 200 can be reduced; thus, the air may be guided to flow smoothly along the shape of the airflow guides 200 toward the connectors 15.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing airflow guides of a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, where only the cabinet portion is shown.

Referring to FIG. 5, airflow guides 300 in the present embodiment may be formed (or provided) on the sides and connectors. To allow air discharged by the fan 40 to flow smoothly toward the outlet 24, the airflow guides 300 may have a rounded shape extending from the top of the housing 10 toward the bottom.

For example, as the fan 40 rotates and air is discharged in a radial direction, the discharged air does not travel in a straight line, but in a curved path. In the present embodiment, air that is discharged toward the connector 15 may travel in a curved path toward the second side 12. In this regard, the rotating direction of the fan 40 may be in a direction opposite to the flow direction of air.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, air that is discharged toward the connector 15 can flow smoothly toward an outlet formed (or provided) at the second side 12, due to the airflow guides 300 extending from the top of the connector and curving toward the second side 12.

In other words, the airflow guides 300 may be curved in a direction corresponding to the flow direction of the air.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, a housing 10 according to the present embodiment is formed of a plurality of sides, where there are four sides 11, 12, 13, and 14.

The airflow guide 400 may be formed on one of the sides and may have a predetermined curvature extending toward an adjacent side. Also, airflow guides 400 may be formed (or provided) on other sides in the same manner.

In this regard, the airflow guides 400 may extend in a direction corresponding to the flow direction of air discharged by the fan 40. For example, the airflow guides 400 may be curved around the outer perimeter of the fan 40.

Thus, the above-configured airflow guides 400 may guide the flow direction of air discharged toward the first side 11 and the second side 12 of the housing 10 toward the second side 12; thus, the air may then move towards the second side 12 and flow towards the bottom of the housing 10 such that the air is smoothly discharged to the outside.

In the above embodiments, airflow guides formed at the corners of the cabinet reduce the creation of eddies at the corners of the cabinet, so that noise is reduced and air can be smoothly discharged to the outside.

It is further noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An air conditioner comprising: a housing; a fan provided within the housing, the fan being configured to draw air into the housing and direct the air radially outward; a heat exchanger provided within the housing, the heat exchanger being configured to exchange heat with the air which is directed radially outward by the fan; and at least one airflow guide provided on the housing and extending in a flow direction of the radially directed air, the airflow guide being configured to guide a discharging of air that has exchanged heat.
 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow guide is formed on upper and side surfaces of the housing.
 3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow guide has a cross-sectional curved shape when viewed in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the blower fan.
 4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the airflow guide is curved toward a direction opposite to the flow direction of the air directed radially outward by the fan.
 5. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow guide has a curvature extending from a top of the housing toward a bottom of the housing.
 6. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow guide extends downwardly from a top of the housing in a direction corresponding to the flow direction of the air which is directed radially outward by the fan.
 7. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow guide defines a noise reduction hole.
 8. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of sides and the airflow guide comprises a plurality of airflow guides provided proximate to intersections of adjacent sides of the housing.
 9. An air conditioner comprising: a housing having a plurality of sides; a fan provided in the housing, the fan being configured to draw air into the housing and direct air radially outward; a heat exchanger provided in the housing, the heat exchanger being configured to exchange heat with the air directed radially outward by the fan; and at least one airflow guide extending from a first side of the housing toward a second side of the housing which is adjacent to the first side, the airflow guide being configured to guide a discharging of air which has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger.
 10. The air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein the airflow guide extends from an end of the first side of the housing.
 11. The air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein the airflow guide extends in a flow direction of the air which is directed radially outward by the fan.
 12. The air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein the airflow guide has a curved horizontal cross sectional shape.
 13. An air conditioner comprising: a housing; a fan provided within the housing, the fan being configured to draw air into the housing and direct the air radially outward; a heat exchanger provided within the housing, the heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with the air directed radially outward by the fan; and an airflow guide provided on the housing and configured to guide a discharging of air which has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger, wherein the housing includes a first side, a second side, and a connector which connects the first and second sides, wherein the airflow guide is provided on at least the connector or the connector and an adjacent side.
 14. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the airflow guide is provided on an upper surface of the housing.
 15. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the airflow guide extends in a discharged direction of the air.
 16. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the airflow guide has a cross-sectional curved shape when viewed in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the blower fan.
 17. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the airflow guide has a curvature extending from a top of the housing toward a bottom of the housing.
 18. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow guide protrudes from the housing into the flow of the radially directed air.
 19. The air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein the airflow guide protrudes from the housing into the flow of the radially directed air.
 20. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the airflow guide protrudes from the housing into the flow of the radially directed air. 